Dispensing device



Dec. 11, 1928. 1,694,812 I s. G. FLOYD DISPENSING DEVICE Filed July 23, 1924 17 l 3 i ]Z I: A J6 QW- ii A 1 11 wunmg mu u aw 3731 35 I, 39 .3 l 26 4Q Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

umrae sures GEORGE a. FLOYD, F RIVERSIDE, ILLfINoTIs.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

Application filed Jul -23, I924. seriai in; 127534.

invention pertains to fountain brushes which contain a supply cit material, such as shaving-cream, which may Xbe forced a little at a time "into the bristles of the 131M811 for 6 lathering or similar purposes, and, whereas the invention is illustrated and described in connection with hrus'hes particularly suited for lather-mg preliminary to shaving, it is lmtm'stricted to any particular art or use hecauseits principles of construction and meth 0d of functioning adapt it ifor satisfactory em; loy men't other relations.

an aim of the invention is to provide a blush "of this t pe in which the exhausted 5 supply of shaving-cream or soap may he readily replenished by the insertion of another full tube or cartridge to take the place of the emptied one.

Another purpose of the invention is to sup ly an appliance of this "style wherein the contents of "tfh'e cream or soap tube or can bridge may heeasily expelled in smail quantities, as may he required in the use of the brush.

A further object of the invention is the production of a fountain brush of this charakter which oomprises few parts, which may be 'economi'caliy manufactured, which will not become injuredor damaged in ordinary service, which may be easiiy kept in clean and sanitary condition, and which Will not become clogged or fouled.

To enable those skilled in this art to have a full andcompiete understanding of the invention bath from structural and ffiIlC tional standpoiinits, the axzcompa nying dnawing "forming a part of this specification and throughout the several Views of which like rem-em characters have been employed to the same pants, I have illustrated a desirable and preferred embodiment of the invention.

In this drawing:

Figure 1 an elevation of the new brush;

Fi-giuoe '2-is an elevation of one of the tubes or "cartiriclg'escontainin'g the .shavingecream or adapbed'to he used in the handle of the brush;

.Figuiie 3 is enlarged longitudinal Secti-Un flimough the improved brush;

Figure 4 is a cross-section on line 44 of Eigune 3 011 a reduced scaie; I

Figure 5 is "a iciossaseetioin on line 5+5 of Figure 3 on :a reduced scale;

55 (5 is a ehosseseetion on line of Figure 3 also on a reduced scale;

Figure 7 is a similar cross-section on the broken line 7-7 of Figure 3 likewise on a reduced scale; and

Figure 8 is a farce View of the 'eXpansibl-e and contrantihle nut.

The new hr-u h, as is fully shown in the several views of this drawing, includes a main, cylindrical, metal shell or casing 11 mterna'liy screw-threaded at one end, that is the brush end of ithe appliance, at 12 and equipped with an int-urndflange or 13 at its opposite end.

This easing or she'll constitutes the main body or handle of the brush which is designed to accommodate or house the removable tube or cartridge of shaving-cream or soap characterized as a whole 14.

A round brush-holder 15 of appropriate design has a threaded inner end 1%; screwed into he part 12 of the external shell or casing 11, the outer portion of the holder havmg a cylindrical recess or cavity 17 frictionaily but 'rem'ova'b ly holding therein the hollow head portion 18 of an appropriate brush 1*9.

Member 15 has a central, ho1low,cylindrical stem or pipe 21 apertured at its end at 22 to form a valve port and projecting Well into the bristles of the brush, the element 18 being shaped for the extension of the stem or pipe 21 therethrou-gh is (H lly shown in Figure 3.

'On its inner face, the member 15 has a central, externallythrxaded, boss 23 fitting in a -com esponding, complementary, internally-threaded socket on the center of end of the cylindrical cream or soap tube or cartridge 14 which is nomenienuy made of thin metal such as the we lli-knnwn collapsible dental and shavingscream tubes.

A long, hollow, externally-threaded rod or shaft 25 is positioned manly wi bh i'ri the cream tube 14 and e-xfie n ds substantially the whole length of the latter.

Such shaft or rod at one end has a head comprising a circular flange portion inside .05: shell or casing 11 and hearing on the inner face of flange 1E5 amid a fiat, handle 2? extended out "threugh' the end opening 0% the 'ieiement 11 and by which means the scnew-threaded rod or ma may be manually turned.

A tang plunger or vatlve stem 28 is slidingly aooonnnodafied in "the bore of bed 25 and at one end in the tabular member '21 has a head 29 of suhst arrtialfiy flmeidiametex bf the hollow interior of such member to form a cream-expelling or discharging piston and a valve for opening and closing the port 22.

The other end of the rod or valve stem 28 is fixed or secured to a cap 31 normally covering the fiat handle 27, as shown in i igure 3, but of course capable of sliding movement to effect corresponding action of the plunger or valve rod 28.

The cream or soap tube 14 at one end has a follower 32 with a thin cylindrical wall 33 inside of the tube or cartridge and of an outside diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the tube, whereby a snug and non-leaking oint is maintained with the tube, such follower having an external, central, boss 34 with screw-threads 35 on its outside and with a central, hexagonal cavity 36 designed to receive the divided, hexagonal part 37 37 of a split-nut 38, 38 which is internally threaded to fit the rod or shaft 25.

The companion parts 38, 38 of the nut are each pivoted to a common, suitably-shaped plate 39 at 41, 41, such plate or support having a central hole 12 therethrough of larger diameter than the threads of rod 25 so as to be freely slidable thereover.

To limit or restrict the opening movements of the complementary nut sections 38, 38, each is conveniently supplied with a stop-pin 43 projecting into a recess 44 of the plate 39. the pin by engagement with an end wall of such recess acting as a stop or abutment to limit the opening or expanding movements, as shown in Figure 8.

At its other or inner end, the hollow, screw rod 25 is fitted with a washer or collar slightly larger in diameter than that of the hole 12 of plate 39, whereby the split-nut cannot be removed from the rod.

When the valve-stem 28 is withdrawn to its full extent, the valve or piston 29 will occupy the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and in order that the semi-liquid contents of the tube may have access to the discharge conduit in pipe 21, that part 45 of lug 23 beyond its threaded portion is longitudinally slotted at 46.

In actual practice, it has been found to be convenient to make the collapsible supply tube or cartridge and its follower of pure tin with their cylindrical walls of approximately seven one-thousandths of an inch in thickness and in order that the friction between the telescoping walls of such tube and follower may be supplemented by appropriate means to insure that the follower will not turn in the tube, it is provided with a slight outward projection at the point 51 causing a corresponding slight projection in the outer tube at the same point.

The operation of the appliance is substantially as follows. Assuming that the parts of the structure are as indicated in Figure 3 and that it is desired to project a small charge of shaving soap or cream from the container into the brush for working up into a lather, the operator first pulls out or retracts the united cover 31 and the valve stem and valve 28, 29 into the dotted line position uncovering the slots 46.

Then the handle 27 is given a proper amount of turning to feed the nut 37, 37 inwardly slightly which pushes the follower 32 ahead of it in the stationary cartridge, thus expelling a portion of its semi-fluid contents into the pipe or tube 21 and possibly some through the valve port 22 into the brush bristles.

During this slight lengthwise travel of the follower, it is prevented from turning in the tube or cartridge because of its frictional lit in the latter and because of the interfitting indentations 51. 2

Owing to the hexagonal shape of the interlocking parts of the follower and nut, the latter is also prevented from rotation which occasions its longitudinal travel during the angular movement of the handle and its threaded rod 25 over which the nut fits.

Then the cover 31 and the valve 29 and its stem 28 are pushed fully in into the full line positions shown in Figure 3, the valve or piston 29 forcing the contents of tube 21 out through the valve port 22 into the brush, whereby there is no small body of soap left in the brush handle and associated parts which would be likely to harden and to render the operation of the device diflicult or uncertain.

The brush having been thus charged with soap or cream, it is ready for use in the usual manner.

Due to the fact that the follower is filled with cream or soap, it maintains its full size during successive, progressive, inward movements, and constitutes an efiective cream or soap expulsion plunger or piston.

Because it is slightly larger than the tube proper, it maintains its tight fit therewith and in very small degree expands the tube as it progresses inwardly.

l/Vhen it reaches the inner end of the tube or cartridge, it collapses under the pressure exerted and thus permits a complete discharge or delivery of the tube contents.

Assuming now that it is desired to remove the emptied tube and to replace it with a new filled one, we proceed as follows, understanding that such tube has been emptied by successive movements of the parts as indicated. above.

The hollow handle easing or shell 11 is unscrewed from the brush-holder 15 and removed longitudinally from the structure carrying with it the parts 27, 25, 28, 29 and the split nut 37, 37, whereupon the emptied or exhausted tube and its collapsed follower may be unscrewed from the member 15 and thrown away.

llu

The screw rod or shaft 25 and associated elements having been removed from the handle, the divided or split nut is then opened up or expanded and quickly slid down to the other end of the hollow, threaded rod 25. thus avoiding the necessity of slowly screwing it down into place, and in its new position it is again contracted on to the threads of the rod 25 ready for use.

Each new filled tube 14, Figure 2, before it is inserted in the brush-handle, has a closure 52 screwed into the tube socket 24 and at its other end the tube has a cap 53 screwed on to the threaded end 34, whereby the contents of the tube are always maintained in fresh and proper condition and the tube is kept from losing any of its soap or cream.

In other words, these two elements 52 and 53 comprise temporary stoppers for the two ends of the cartridge until the latter is ready for employment in the brush-handle, when they are taken off.

Then the united threaded rod 25, valve 29 and its valve stem 28 are pushed through the pair aligned holes at the two ends of the new, filled tube, the closures 52 and 53 having been previously removed, and the hexagonal socket 36 is easily fitted over the correspondingly shaped part of the nut 37, 37 as is clearly shown in Figure 3.

Then the threaded boss 23 of the member 15 is screwed into the corresponding end of the tube, the stem 28 and valve 29 acting as a centering guide, whereupon the handle casing 11 is applied and screwed on to the brushholder 15.

The brush is now ready for use as explained above with the gradual, progressive, manual travel of the nut and follower inwardly to press out the contents of the tube, which action is supplemented by that of the reciprocatory plunger and valve 29.

It will be observedthat the part 31, when in the position shown in Figure 3, forms a cover for the flat handle 27. This is a feature of importance, because it requires the retraction of the element 31, thus effecting the opening of the discharge valveport 22 before the tube-follower can be advanced by the turning of handle 27 to deliver a portion of the soft contents. If the valve-port remained closed and the handle 27 were turned a substantial amount, there would be a tendency to burst or rupture the soft, thin-metal tube, due to the fact that its soap could not tiud other egress under the exerted pressure.

If the operator should fail to push the cover 31 in after it has been retracted, this is accomplished more or less automatically when he sets the brush up on its end, which action would naturally result, either by pressure exerted by the operator or by the weight of the parts, in carrying the brush handle and associated parts down sufficiently to push in the valve and its stem cover 31 fully home.

Those skilled in this art will readily understand that the invention is not limited and restricted to the precise and exact structural features presented, and that many minor mechanical changes may be made in the appliance illustrated and described without departure from the heart and essence of the invention and without the sacrifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing appliance, the combination of a hollow handle adapted to accommo date a supply-tube, a discharge-pipe connected to said tube and having a delivery-port, a reciprocatory valve in said pipe controlling said port, a stem for said valve, a cover on said stem, means to cause said tube to deliver its contents into said pipe, and a handle by which said delivery means may be actuated, said cover enclosing said delivery-means handle in the port-closing position of said valve, whereby said port must be opened before said delivery means can be operated.

2. In a dispensing appliance, the combination of a main hollow handle adapted to accommodate a supply-tube within it, a discharge-pipe leading from said handle and designed to communicate with the interior of the tube when the latter is in place in the handle, said pipe having a delivery-port near its end, a combined plunger and valve in said pipe retractable to permit the filling of said pipe ahead of said plunger from the contents of said tube and slidable in said pipe to expel the contents of said pipe ahead of it, and to close said pipe delivery-port after such expulsion, a handle by means of which said plunger-valve may be operated, means inside of said handle to force the contents of said tube into said pipe when permitted to do so by the position of said plunger-valve, and a handle to actuate said forcing means.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE G. FLOYD. 

